Cars – The Berlin Spectatorhttps://berlinspectator.com
This is Berlin.Fri, 29 May 2020 18:49:47 +0000en-US
hourly
1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.1https://berlinspectator.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-logo-berlin-spectator-023-SQUARE-512-2-32x32.jpgCars – The Berlin Spectatorhttps://berlinspectator.com
3232159402125Germany: Berliners Love to Drive Exotic Carshttps://berlinspectator.com/2020/05/29/germany-berliners-love-to-drive-exotic-cars/
Fri, 29 May 2020 17:38:00 +0000https://berlinspectator.com/?p=21311This week, the Senate listed all cars registered in Berlin by brand. While most Berliners drive conventional vehicles made in Germany, the number of exotic ones is quite high. Holy cow!]]>

This week, the Senate listed all cars registered in Berlin by brand. While most Berliners drive conventional vehicles made in Germany, the number of exotic ones is quite high. Holy cow!

Driving to ‘Aldi’ in order to get two tomatoes and a bottle of sparkling water is always a good idea. But it gets a lot more exiting when the car used for that vital errand is an Aston Martin. As many as 191 of them are registered in Berlin right now. Those British-made sports vehicles have the right power reserves, sound and comfort.

Four Bugattis

Showing off a 2010 Hyundai Accent with a broken wheel bearing and countless cosmetic issues at a red traffic light is great. But we have to admit that the owners of the 353 Bentleys registered in the German capital put on a much better show. Let’s not even mention the four Bugattis in this city. Are the Veyrons?

The list the Berlin Senate provided is an answer to an official inquiry handed in by Marcel Luthe, a member of the Berlin House of Representatives and the liberal party FDP. It only contains manufacturers. Models are not specified.

One Single Checker

One thing is certain: The list of registered cars in the capital does prove that Berliners do have some taste after all. This applies to the owners of the 44 Cadillacs registered in this city. Let’s hope there are Sevilles, DeVilles, Eldorados and other classic ones among those. As many as 32 Buicks are registered in Berlin and one Checker. The latter vehicles were used as cabs in the United States of America in the 1970s and 80s.

So, you want to impress your date? Show how witty, funny and considerate you are. But if you intend to be in the center of the attention on the streets of Berlin, let’s hope you are not driving a Dacia, but rather a Jaguar E-Type (see main photo). There are 1,573 Jags in Berlin. Most likely, only a few of them are E-Types.

As Flat as a Stamp

Those 388 Maseratis in Berlin, or the 103 Lamborghinis, are impressive, depending on the models. There might even be some Miuras and Countachs. But the eight Jensens lucky Berliners drive will cause even more envy. Also they might be easier to identify in case of a problem.

“To the owner of the Jensen Interceptor: You are kindly asked to come to the parking lot. A crane just fell on your vehicle. It is about as flat as a stamp.” This is the kind of announcement the 72 Lotus owners in Berlin do not want to hear either.

Two-Cycle Racer

There are cars nobody should damage, e.g. while squeezing their chaep, rusty vehicle into a parking spot on front of them. This applies to the 32 McLarens registered in Berlin. Or the one Melkus. The latter used to be the only sports car brand the communist GDR had. Those vehicles sounded weird and stank like hell because of their two-cycle engines. But they are rarities today.

Berlin accommodates one Monteverdi driver. This used to be a Swiss brand that offered one of the first SUVs ever, namely the Monteverdi Safari, and an elegant convertible called Monteverdi Palm Beach. There are 177 Rolls Royces and three DeTomasos in Berlin too.

High-Tech Engineering

No, you won’t perform the most impressive racing start once the light turns green in your 2003 Volvo V70, but you will if you are among the owners of the 905 Teslas in Berlin. Chances are their number will increase substantially once the Tesla ‘Gigafactory’ in neighboring Brandenburg is ready to rumble next year.

The bad news is that most of the 1.2 million cars in Berlin are rather boring, in comparison. There are 206,284 Volkswagens, 164,807 Mercedes and 87,319 BMWs. Most of those lowered 3-series BMWs with loud exhaust pipes can be seen on Karl Marx Strasse in Berlin’s Neukölln district.

Berlin has 61,944 Audis, 89,216 Opels, 65,324 Skodas and 8,393 Porsches. Hey, the most brilliant example for German high-tech engineering is represented in the German capital as well, by a total of 918 Trabants. The only reason they have not fallen apart yet is the fact that they have cardboard bodies.

By the way: The publication you are reading, The Berlin Spectator, was established in January of 2019. We have worked a whole lot, as you can see. But there has hardly been any income.As of May 7th, 2020, we made an average of 74 Euro per month since starting the project, which is far from enough.Would you consider contributing? We would be very thankful. If you like what we do and you want to support us, you can do soby clicking here(Paypal).Thank you so much!

In Germany, it just got easier to lose one’s driver’s license for traffic violations. From today, much higher fines for speeding and other contraventions apply.

Speeders in Germany will need to pile up even more banknotes on the table for parking at the wrong spot, for speeding in cities, towns and village or on highways and freeways. In February, a substantial increase of fines was approved by the Bundesrat on February 14th, 2020. It kicks in today.

For instance, parking on a spot for electric vehicles with a conventional one, or on a parking spot for handicapped people without a certificate of disability costs 55 Euro. The fines for speeding partially doubled.

Speeding Fines for Highways and Freeways

Up to 10 km/h faster than allowed: 20 Euro

11 to 15 km/h: 40 Euro

16 to 20 km/h: 60 Euro

21 to 25 km/h: 70 Euro and 1 point in the traffic offender database

26 to 30 km/h: 80 Euro and 1 point

31 to 40 km/h: 120 Euro and 1 point

41 to 50 km/h: 160 Euro and 2 points

51 to 60 km/h: 240 Euro and 2 points

61 to 70 km/h: 440 Euro and 2 points

More than 70 km/h: 600 Euro plus 2 points

The Points System

In Germany, drivers who accumulate 8 points in the traffic offender data base lose their driver’s license for 6 months. Once it reaches 7 points, the authorities are obliged to warn the individual about an imminent loss of his or her license in case of another violation the penalty for which includes a point.

From today, exceeding the maximum speed on highways or freeways (B-roads and ‘motorways’ in British English) by 26 to 40 km/h once means the driver will lose his or her driver’s license for a while. Before, this kind of harsh penalty applied after the second case in one year.

Within cities, speeding fines just doubled as well.

Speeding fines Within Cities, Towns and Villages:

Up to 10 km/h faster than allowed: 30 Euro

11 to 15 km/h: 50 Euro

16 to 20 km/h: 70 Euro (bislang 35 Euro)

21 to 25 km/h: 80 Euro and 1 point

26 to 30 km/h: 100 Euro and 2 points

31 to 40 km/h: 160 Euro and 2 points

41 to 50 km/h: 200 Euro and 2 points

51 to 60 km/h: 280 Euro and 2 points

61 to 70 km/h: 480 Euro and 2 points

More than 70 km/h: 680 Euro and two points

On top of it all, the fines for certain parking violations or for causing noise or unnecessary pollution were increased substantially too. Blocking the view on streets for other drivers by parking too close to intersections or other critical spots now costs 35 Euro. Blocking fire fighters by parking in fire rescue paths is 55 Euro.

Parking in the second row is 55 to 80 Euro, depending on the question whether a traffic obstruction is being caused or not. The fine for causing more noise and pollution than necessary is 80 Euro, and the one for entering a low-emission zone with the wrong vehicle is 100 Euro.

By the way: The publication you are reading, The Berlin Spectator, was established in January of 2019. We have worked a whole lot, as you can see. But there has hardly been any income. This is something we urgently need to change. Would you consider contributing? We would be very thankful. Our donations page can be found here.

]]>19794Made in Germany: The Top 10 Most Remarkable Carshttps://berlinspectator.com/2020/03/28/made-in-germany-the-top-10-most-remarkable-cars/
Sat, 28 Mar 2020 07:16:20 +0000https://berlinspectator.com/?p=17777Germany does export a lot of goods, including food, clothing, weapons, machines, wines and cuckoo clocks. But, since the 1960s, cars have been the main export product. Everyone wants the 'Made in Germany' label on their vehicles. These are the top 10 of the most remarkable German vehicles.]]>

Germany does export a lot of goods, including food, clothing, weapons, machines, wines and cuckoo clocks. But, since the 1960s, cars have been the main export product. Everyone wants the ‘Made in Germany’ label on their vehicles.

These are the top 10 of the most remarkable German cars. Meet ‘The Cruise Ship’, ‘The Shoe Box’, ‘The Beauty’ and ‘The Vacuum Cleaner’.

10. The Cruise Ship

The Opel Diplomat was basically an American car made in Germany.

In 1964, Opel, a division of General Motors in Germany, started building a huge American cruiser called Diplomat. The Opel Diplomat B (photo) replaced the A model in 1969. In both cases, the most expensive version was propelled by a proper V8 engine with the right kind of sound and power reserves. Sure, one kick-down would basically get rid of half the gasoline in the vehicle’s tank, but nobody gave a damn. This applied until 1973, when the oil crisis hit. In 1977, the Diplomat was dumped.

9. The Shoe Box

The VW Bus is a symbol of the 1970s. Photo: Volkswagen

You want to build a van? Take a Volkswagen Beetle and replace its body with a shoe box. The Volkswagen T1 was a sensation that already came in many versions. It served as a transporter, with an open or closed cargo area, as a camper or a 9-seater bus, but lacked one thing, namely power. The T2 (photo above) was improved to some extent, but the author had to switch back into 2nd gear in order to be able to climb harmless hills in the 1980s. Nowadays, the latest versions have 210 Diesel-HP. Anyway: The Volkswagen Bus gave people the freedom to paint flowers on their vehicle in Woodstock, while listening to Janis Joplin.

8. The Legend

Looking for the prettiest Porsche 911 ever? It’s the G-Model. Period.

No version of the Porsche 911 represents this model better than the G-Model (photo) which was built from 1973 to 1989. It came in many versions, including the Carrera, the Targa (a semi-convertible with a hard top) and the crazy Porsche 911 Turbo with 300 hp. Back then, this kind of power still impressed people. Of course the 911 is related to the Volkswagen Beetle. But the siblings took very different paths. Until today, the Porsche 911 is the ultimate non-Italian sports vehicle.

7. The Surprise

Audi managed to squeeze a big V8 engine into the 100/200 body.

Audi was doing well in the automotive middle class in the mid-1980s. They had the Audi 80 and the larger 100. At one point, they added more power to the 100 and called it the 200. Then, in 1988, Audi was tired of trailing behind BMW and Mercedes. Those competitors dominated the upper class vehicle market with the 7-Series and the S-Class. So Audi took a 100/200 body, gave it a more potent front look and squeezed a new V8 engine into its hood. The outcome may not have been the final answer to the competition yet, but the Audi V8, the predecessor to the A8, was a stunning car. The author of these lines tested one of the first Audi V8s ever built in 1988, for a radio station in southern Germany, and did not want to get out of the car anymore. That is how comfty it was.

6. The Turtle

The Beetle was the car of the 20th century.

Maybe they should have called it Turtle, but it actually is the Volkswagen Beetle. It was built from 1938 to 2003. Let’s get the terrible part out of the way: Adolf Hitler, Germany’s fascist dictator, ordered a car people could afford, the ‘KdF Wagen’ which later turned into the Beetle. But the project took off after WWII. Beetles were built and driven everywhere. In Germany, they were affordable and reliable family vehicles, in Mexico City they were taxis. Beetles crossed the Sahara desert and raced down icy roads in Norway. With 21.5 million items sold, the Volkswagen Beetle was the world’s bestseller until it was overtaken, literally, by the Golf in 2002.

5. The Statement

The first version of the C-Class was convincing in every way. Photo: Peter Olthof

In 1972, people could not believe their eyes. That year, Mercedes came up with something the automotive press would quickly call “the best car in the world”. Just before the oil crisis hit, the S-Class became a shiny example of how to build an elegant, powerful and safe luxury car. Even the way Mercedes did the paneling of the doors from the inside was stunning. The top model was the Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9 which also became the first choice for high-ranking politicians and CEOs of large companies. Driving an S-Class became a statement, and still is.

4. The Fish Can

The Volkswagen Derby was a more ugly version of the Polo. Photo: ‘denmarkeuroB11’

Anyone who was interested in seeing items get rusty within 5 minutes and fall apart due to corrosion in 10 had a good opportunity in 1977. They just needed to look at a Volkswagen Derby, the reincarnation of the fish can. The Derby was actually a Polo with an ugly trunk. Volkswagen probably asked an intern to design the vehicle: “Hey, Frank, we need a new car. Design one. You have 5 minutes.”

3. The Vacuum Cleaner

Nobody will ever mistake the Isetta for anything else.

During WWII, BMW had mainly built motorbikes and aircraft engines. In 1955, they tried to build a car. The outcome, called Isetta, was basically a mixture between a motorbike, an aircraft engine, a Bavarian cupcake and a vacuum cleaner. The only entry door was in front. How was anyone going to get out of the car after a fender-bender? Today, the BMW Isetta is a legend and collector’s item.

2. The Racer

The Prinz was the ugliest car in West Germany, until the VW Derby came along. Photo: Pujanak

From 1958 to 1973, the former automaker NSU offered the Prinz. Motivated by the success of the Volkswagen Beetle, they created an ugly body and shoved a 20 HP engine up its rear. In the version on the photo (Prinz 4), this rather weird vehicle already had 30 HP. Hold on to your hats! That engine, a stunning example of German engineering, propelled this vehicle to 116 km/h (72 MPH), but not against the wind.

1. The Beauty

A stunning design an very smooth engines were the trademarks of the 7-series. Photo: BMW

“Enough is enough!” This is probably what BMW‘s managers said in 1976 when the Mercedes-Benz S-Class was the undisputed king of the road. The Bavarians needed to do something quickly. The answer they came up with was the 7-series. In 1977, they threw the first version on the market. The second version (photo) followed in 1986. Its most expensive version, the 750 and 760, even had a 12-cylinder engine that outperformed Mercedes’ top S-Class for a while and gave the competition pretty bad headaches. The first three 7-series versions (E23, E32 and E38) were the most beautiful cars Germany ever designed and built. Amen.

Of course there are more remarkable German cars built since the 1960s, including the Porsche 928, the Messerschmidt Kabinenroller, the ‘Ro80’ and the Golf.

By the way: The publication you are reading, The Berlin Spectator, was established in January of 2019. We have worked a whole lot, as you can see. But there has hardly been any income. This is something we urgently need to change. Would you consider contributing? We would be very thankful. Our donations page can be found here.

]]>17777Germany: Winter Tires and the ‘Situational Obligation’https://berlinspectator.com/2019/10/19/germany-winter-tires-and-the-situational-obligation/
Sat, 19 Oct 2019 09:13:12 +0000https://berlinspectator.com/?p=9839The Germans have a rule which says "Use winter tires from 'O' to 'O'." The first 'O' stands for October, and the second one for 'Ostern', which is the German word for Easter. This does not work too well in English, does it? ]]>

What using winter tires is concerned, Germany has its rules. But following those will not make drivers as safe as they should be. There are recommendations drivers should follow.

The Germans have a rule which says “Use winter tires from ‘O’ to ‘O’.” The first ‘O’ stands for October, and the second one for ‘Ostern’, which is the German word for Easter. This does not work too well in English, does it? From ‘O’ to ‘E’? Seriously?

‘Situational Obligation’

Let’s start from the beginning. Germany is located in the northern part of Central Europe, meaning it does snow, at least as long as global warming does not make this region a beach with palm trees or a desert. From October to March or even April, freezing temperatures, snow and ice have to be expected.

The existing rules are the very minimum Germany expects from drivers. First of all, there is what is called a ‘situational obligation’ to use winter tires. If it is warm around Christmas, nobody will be fined if he or she uses summer tires. But when roads are frozen in October, they will.

The fine can be anywhere from 60 to 100 Euro (67 to 112 Dollars or 52 to 86 Pounds Sterling), depending on the question whether the driver endangered others by not using winter tires. There is another issue: In case of an accident on summer tires and snowy or frozen roads, the insurance will probably not pay, or it might only cover part of the damage.

More Grip

Whoever drives in winterly conditions needs to make sure his or her winter tire tread is at least 1.6 millimeters (0.04 inches) deep, according to the German law. At the same time the General German Automobile Association (ADAC) recommends 4 millimeters (0.16 inches). That way, the tires have a lot more grip.

It is easy to establish whether the tread is good enough, with a 2 Euro coin. If the silver edge of that coin disappears in the tread, everything is fine. If it does not, new winter tires should be purchased. By the way: Winter tires do not only have a deeper tread, but they are made using a different composition of materials, to make sure they survive freezing temperatures while protecting everyone.

Decades ago, winter tires made regular passengers cars sound like Soviet tanks. They increased the gasoline consumption to the level of Soviet tanks too. According to the ADAC, those times are over. Differences between summer and winter tires, in this regard, are hardly measurable.

The German law says, they need to have a tread of 1.6 millimeters. According to the ADAC, they should have a 4mm tread (0.16 inches).

Winter tires create the grip needed in winter. They protect everyone as well as possible. In case of an accident with a car with winter tires, the insurance will pay.

]]>9839Germany: Next Golf to be Unveiled in Golf Countryhttps://berlinspectator.com/2019/10/12/germany-next-golf-unveiled-in-golf-country-1/
Sat, 12 Oct 2019 05:17:54 +0000https://berlinspectator.com/?p=9423Volkswagen is about to present its new Golf. The eighth generation of this bestseller will be shown off in Wolfsburg later this month, on October 24th. One thing is certain: The new one is sleek and beautiful. At the same time, its electric sibling 'ID.3' is a lot cleaner.]]>

Volkswagen is about to present its new Golf. The eighth generation of this bestseller will be shown off in Wolfsburg later this month, on October 24th. One thing is certain: The new one is sleek and beautiful. At the same time, its electric sibling ‘ID.3’ is a lot cleaner.

Germans are predictable, especially when it comes to their cars. First of all, they love their vehicles and would rather get rid of their fridge, their pants and their pillow before even considering selling their boxes on four wheels.

Double-Track Approach

What change is concerned, any kind of change, Germans are known to be skeptical at first. This applies even more in the age of the electric car. While the latter has already begun in Finland, Germany is struggling with it. Sure, this has to do with politics as well, meaning with the absence of convincing incentives for the purchase of electric cars.

That is why Volkswagen is following a double-track approach. At the IAA motor show in Frankfurt, the auto giant recently showed of its purely electric ‘ID.3’. Now it is the new Golf VIII which will mesmerize the country, even though it is being propelled by gasoline and Diesel engines. Those develop 90 to 150 HP. At least they added a cleaner plug-in hybrid version with 250 HP as well.

The future has hit the Golf’s dashboard. Photo: Volkswagen

By its design, the Golf VIII might be recognizable as a Volkswagen, but it is new in its entirety and could hardly be more modern. The same applies to the dashboard. In this regard, nothing, except for the VW logo, looks like before. Most buttons have disappeared. Touch screens and virtual menus are what Volkswagen went for. The future has begun.

Past and Future

In this time of change, all German car manufacturers offer both the past and the future. This new Golf VIII may look like the future, but it also contains the past, what its propulsion is concerned. It is unclear whether an electric version will follow or if VW will leave that kind of thing to its ‘ID.3’. (Note: Article continues below ‘Related Articles’ teasers.)

The Golf goes back a long way. In 1973, Volkswagen had some issues to resolve. One of their problems was the fact that they needed a new bestseller to cling on to since they were drowning. The Beetle was technically obsolete. It was too loud, too small, too slow and too thirsty. It was over.

They needed two things: A large family sedan and a Beetle successor. And they needed those fast. For a while, VW messed around with an ugly sedan called K-70 and other models such as the 411L and the 412LE. None of them was very successful. They were bathtubs on wheels.

Golf, Caribe and Rabbit

But in 1973, the first Passat was sold. This model would be a huge success story, and it still is today. In 1974, another new model followed, which looked like a smaller version of the Passat’s hatchback version. They called it Golf. At that moment, nobody had the faintest clue about the kind of success story that model would create.

After Volkswagen noticed they could sell Golfs like hot sausages, in huge numbers, they took it overseas too. In the late 1970-s, it was very fashionable to drive a VW Caribe in Mexico. It was actually the Golf con nombre latino. In the U.S. they called it VW Rabbit for a while.

The Golf goes back a long way. Picture: Volkswagen

Yes, the Golf has basically been Germany’s bestselling car since 1975. In 2002, it even beat the Beetle’s all-time number, with 21 and a half million items built. By 2014, VW had produced 30 million Golfs. The sky turned out to be the limit.

Anything Goes

The seventh generation of this most popular model is being sold today. In 2018, a total of 211,512 new Golfs were registered in Germany alone. In June of 2019, the eighth generation was supposed to be introduced. But the big show needed to be postponed by four months, because of the electric revolution and other events.

So far, Germany is Golf country. The Germans just love Golfs of all kinds, no matter whether it is the regular one, the Diesel version, the GTI, GTD, the convertible or the RS with 6 cylinders and a lot of power. Anything goes. As long as it is a Golf.

Do you like this publication? If yes: Would you consider supporting us?Up to now, we have been working without income for an entire year. Your donation would make things easier for us. Thank you.Please visit our donation page or go to our Paypal page directly.

]]>9423Germany: Vampires at Gas Stationshttps://berlinspectator.com/2019/09/26/germany-vampires-at-gas-stations/
Thu, 26 Sep 2019 18:54:02 +0000https://berlinspectator.com/?p=8617In Germany, gas prices might be rather high, mainly because the state squeezes drivers like oranges. On top of that, the gas stations, meaning the giant corporations behind them, suck peoples' wallets dry like thirsty vampires. But there are ways to save at least some money.]]>

In Germany, gas prices might be rather high, mainly because the state squeezes drivers like oranges. On top of that, the gas stations, meaning the giant corporations behind them, suck peoples’ wallets dry like thirsty vampires. But there are ways to save at least some money.

It is a great idea to get your kicks on Route 66, for several reasons: Well, it winds from Chicago to L.A., which is 2000 miles all the way. So, if you ever plan to motor west, just take my way, it’s the highway, that’s the best. And there is another aspect which makes that idea great again: It’s the fuel prices.

Gas Suckers in Europe

Yes, the Americans might be complaining about those all the time. Guys, do me a favor: Come to Europe, rent a gas sucker on four wheels and enter one of our elegant gas stations. You will not like the amounts they will deduct from your checking accounts. That’s for sure.

Let’s pick a U.S. state. Well, let’s look at the District of Columbia. It is not a state, but who cares? The average price for mid-grade gasoline is 3.205 Dollars per gallon, and for Diesel 3.092 per gallon. When we convert gallons to liters, we get 0.85 Dollars for gasoline and 0.82 Dollars for a liter of Diesel.

Well, yeah. Exactly. Photo: Imanuel Marcus

Three hours ago, at an ‘Aral’ gas station in Berlin, one liter of mid-grade gasoline (‘E10’) was the equivalent of 1.44 Dollars and Diesel 1.34 Dollars. This means both are about 60 Cents (U.S.) more expensive. To make a comparison easier for Americans: A gallon of gasoline in Berlin would be 5.45 Dollars.

Hitting the Kickdown

Now, who has better gas prices? Oh yes, filling up that Camaro V8 and hitting the kickdown every few seconds until the gas tank is as dry as the Sahara desert would be a whole lot cheaper in the U.S.. But that does not help us much. Who would ship his car from Hamburg to New Jersey for 5,000 Dollars, just to fill it up?

In Germany, the fuel prices depend on the oil price, like in most other countries too. But there are more factors. One is the mineral oil tax the state takes out of our wallets. Let’s stay with Dollars to make it easier. The tax is about 0.72 Dollars per liter for gasoline or 0.51 Dollars per liter for Diesel, meaning without that tax gasoline in Germany would be sold for U.S. prices. On top of it all, the mineral oil giants are squeezing drivers.

In order to save at least a little, you can follow these rules:

Never go to gas stations on the Autobahn. They are usually a lot more expensive than others. When on the Autobahn, wait for signs which say ‘Autohof’ and follow them. Those places are huge gas stations near the Autobahn, for truckers and passenger car drivers who want to save. Those ‘Autohöfe’ usually have a McDonald’s or a KFC too.

Try to use gas station brands which are cheaper than others. One of them is ‘Jet’. Others depend on the region or province you are in. In Berlin, gasoline and Diesel are cheaper in the eastern part of the city.

Play the price game, meaning do not fill up your tank at certain hours. Many gas stations suddenly increase their prices at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.. The difference can be substantial.

Feeling Better About Prices

By the way: In some German provinces, gas prices are a lot higher than in others. The more expensive federal states are Saarland, Baden-Wurttemberg, Thuringia, Bavaria, Brandenburg and Rhineland-Palatinate.

If you want to feel better about gas prices in Germany, either drive an electric car, or no car at all, or look at other European countries where things are far worse. One of those is the United Kingdom, where a liter of gasoline or Diesel is about 1.30 Pounds Sterling. Converted to Dollars and Gallons that would be 6.05.

Yes, that’s twice as much as in the U.S.. This explains why we Europeans seem crazy. We drive tiny bathtubs on four wheels because of those damned vampires at gas stations.

Do you like this publication? If yes: Would you consider supporting us?Up to now, we have been working without income for an entire year (as of September 23rd, 2019).Your donation would make things easier for us. Thank you.Please visit our donation page or go to our Paypal page directly.

]]>8617Germany: Badly Organized Car-Free Sunday Coming Uphttps://berlinspectator.com/2019/09/16/germany-car-free-sunday-badly-organized-3/
Mon, 16 Sep 2019 05:33:48 +0000https://berlinspectator.com/?p=8019In the times of climate change, the automobile is standing in the pillory. While hundreds of thousands of people are celebrating individual mobility in form of the car at the IAA motor show in Frankfurt, a car-free day will be observed in many cities this Sunday. But the event has not been organized too well. ]]>

In the times of climate change, the automobile is standing in the pillory. While hundreds of thousands of people are celebrating individual mobility in form of the car at the IAA motor show in Frankfurt, a car-free day will be observed in many cities this Sunday. But the event has not been organized too well.

In the early 1970s, citizens of West Germany felt the limits of individual mobility, when the Bonn government imposed driving bans on them. Twenty-eight years after Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender, the Germans thought they would be able to burn oil forever. Then, all of a sudden, things went south. A sudden oil price hike caused a recession and reminded people that oil, and therefore gasoline, was not going to last forever.

OPEC Scares Germans

On November 25th, 1973, tens of thousands of Hamburg residents, the author of these lines included, had the opportunity to walk the streets, but literally. Not a single car was in sight on that cool Sunday. It felt good. And it was scary. Would OPEC end the prosperity and mobility the Germans had gotten used to? This is what many Germans were worried about.

Today, 46 years later, an increasing number of Germans seem to be worrying about climate change far more than about the kind of mobility which involves gasoline-powered vehicles. The government does not impose driving bans on them anymore, but they are doing so themselves, voluntarily.

This coming Sunday, September 22nd, 2019, cities in Germany and elsewhere in Europe will continue what has become the tradition of the car-free day in September. It is supposed to show people they depend on their cars less than they think, and that they can be mobile without, especially in the age of electric bicycles.

EventNot Organized Well

Public transport providers, such as the BVG in Berlin, want to present themselves as a good alternative, especially to stubborn drivers who may never have considered switching. For September 22nd, the BVG has thought of something special: Single one-way trip tickets for adults, which are 2.80 Euro (3.10 Dollars or 2.49 Pounds Sterling) will be valid as day-passes.

That special ticket will be good for all U-Bahn and S-Bahn trains as well as all trams and buses in the so-called ‘Berlin AB’ area, meaning inside the ‘S-Bahn Ring’. Up to three children aged 14 or younger can come along on the same ticket. A day ticket of this kind usually costs 7 Euro (7.75 Dollars or 6.22 Pounds).

In Berlin, the BVG uses the car-free day for promotion purposes. Photo: Imanuel Marcus

The car-free day 2019 was not organized well. There does not seem to be a website which covers the nationwide aspect of this event or which would list all participating cities. Würzburg announced its own car-free days on Facebook. In Berlin, only news articles about the cheap BVG ticket even mention it. But, due to the ongoing discussions and fears regarding climate change, many Germans will probably observe the car-free day anyway.

In Düsseldorf, the event took place a week earlier, meaning yesterday. It was not too successful. The city center was blocked for cars, but only few pedestrians came to check how it felt.

]]>8019The Frankfurt Perspective: What was the Question Again?https://berlinspectator.com/2019/09/12/the-frankfurt-perspective-what-was-the-question-again-1/
Thu, 12 Sep 2019 19:58:43 +0000https://berlinspectator.com/?p=7938Our reporter spent two days at the IAA motor show in Frankfurt. He must have breathed through an electric car's exhaust pipe accidentally or something. Do not read this article.]]>

Our reporter spent two days at the IAA motor show in Frankfurt. He must have breathed through an electric car’s exhaust pipe accidentally or something. Do not read this article.

Vehicles can be as ugly as the barn find they placed at the entrance to fair hall no. 4. That terminally rusty pile of junk was supposed to catch my attention and make me enter the classic cars exhibit. Well, it worked. They got me.

Cruise Ship with a Star

Inside, some treasure hunters actually tried to sell some 1950s Mercedes 300 SLs for more than one million Euro each. Another classic cars dealer from southern Germany told me how he had managed to drive his 1970s Mercedes 600 SL Pullmann into the hall through the regular entrance door.

A restoration? On this barn find? Forget it. Photo: Imanuel Marcus

This is like trying to park a Boeing 747 in your bedroom. That ‘Merc’ is about as wide as the Symphony of the Seas with a star on its hood, and that guy is a true master. He had like half an inch on each side. Impressive. If he is available for adoption, I will think about it.

The Titanic was driven into hall no. 4 through a narrow entrance. Photo: Imanuel Marcus

At the IAA’s press center, hundreds of journalists from all parts of the world did not have any space either. On Wednesday, which was ‘press day’, they almost needed to sit on top of each other, even though there were like 150 tables with just as many Internet wires and stuff.

The Advantage of Folding Ladders

Thanks to those Italian colleagues. Only one of them knew the new Lamborghini’s model name. It’s Sián, guys. Another colleague from ‘Al Volante’ magazine, who was sitting on the opposite side of the table, kept on sneezing into my face. Grazie, ragazzi.

These 300SL are being sold for more than a million Euro each. Holy cow! Photo: Imanuel Marcus

Shall we talk about dry bread rolls for 3.50 Euro or about the ‘Gangsta Rap’ they were playing at the offroader course, for everyone to hear? That 4-minute song contained more f-words than an entire ‘HBO Special’ with the late George Carlin. At the same time, the percentage of English-speaking IAA visitors was very high. Yes, details are important after all.

Oh yes, exactly. Photo: Imanuel Marcus

What else? Members of the Chinese delegation cut me off in their S-Class. By the way: Weren’t they supposed to showcase their own vehicles? But the craziest experience was the press race across the premises while Angela Merkel was taking her tour. The fastest colleagues, and those who brought folding ladders, won.

Cool Petrol Heads

Hey, the toy cars they sold at the IAA were partially prettier than the real ones. And their price tag fit my budget a lot better. I like that tiny Land Rover and these Volkswagen mini buses in all colors of the damned rainbow.

Some unconventional vehicles were exhibited. This is a prototype built by a small company, with a Landcruiser ‘face’. Photo: Imanuel Marcus

O.k., I admit it: I liked the IAA. Insights. Steak sandwich breakfast. Cool petrol heads. Besides, it’s good to be in western Germany, in order to forget the Berlin chaos for a little while. What was the question again?

German Chancellor Angela Merkel officially opened the IAA motor show today. The auto industry needed to rebuild trust, she said in Frankfurt. Decreasing Germany’s CO2 emissions was a big challenge, Merkel conceded.

Hundreds of invited guests who attended the opening ceremony for the IAA auto show in Frankfurt today learned that climate protection and individual mobility do not exclude each other. This is what Bernhard Matthes, the President of the German Association of the Automotive Association told them as he opened the IAA in Frankfurt with Angela Merkel.

Committed to Clima Goals

The German auto industry was committed to the climate goals established in Paris, Matthes said. From the government, he demanded a nationwide ‘5G’ coverage, which is the latest cellular network technology available. It was needed for an interconnection of mobility. Matthes also called for subsidies for electric cars and vehicles with other alternative propulsion systems.

Just as the IAA opened for representatives of the auto industry, the latter was rattled by reports about yet another chapter in the Diesel scandal. Volkswagen, Germany’s largest car maker, supposedly installed faulty software even in modern Euro 6 norm Diesel engines.

The Diesel scandal started to unfold years ago, when reports said VW had programmed Diesel engines to activate their emissions controls only during laboratory emissions testing. In the United States of America, VW has paid a huge fine. As it turned out later, other German car makers were involved in the scandal as well since they followed the same scheme.

Changes and Acceptance

Volker Bouffier, the governor (‘Ministerpräsident’) of the federal state of Hesse said at the ceremony, climate protection needed to be guaranteed. This should not be done against the automobile, but with it, he stated. Changes were necessary, but also acceptance.

According to Bouffier, a member of the conservative CDU, just like Merkel, the auto industry’s innovation and growth was important to Germany since it ensured prosperity in future as well. He said the IAA was a “chance for a dialog with the critics of the car.”

John Krafcik, the CEO of Waymo greeted the IAA’s VIP guests by demonstrating his company’s research successes in the area of autonomous driving. He said Waymo had found out that systems which only supported humans while driving were too dangerous. Therefore, the human driver had been taken out of the loop completely in the latest research projects.

New Factory in Detroit

Waymo is a self-driving technology development company owned by Alphabet, Google’s parent company, which just built a factory for autonomously driving vehicles in Detroit. As base vehicles, they use the Jaguar I-Pace and a mini van.

Autonomous driving is supposed to decrease the number of the world’s road and street fatalities, which amount to 1.35 million per year, and enable people with handicaps to be mobile as well. One of Waymo’s slogans is “Building the most experienced driver.”

Before Chancellor Merkel looked at some exhibits at the IAA in Frankfurt, she said the German auto industry needed to build trust after the Diesel scandal. She said she appreciated the industry’s investment of 25 billion Euro into research on alternative propulsion systems.

Experiment for the Future

Merkel conceded that decreasing Germany’s CO2 emissions is a challenge. Every time cars had become more efficient, their number had increased. Therefore the CO2 emissions had not changed much since 1990, she said at the motor show, located at ‘Messe Frankfurt’.

In a way, electric cars were an experiment for the future, because the energy they consumed needed to be regenerative to make them clean. At this stage, about 40% of the energy generated in Germany is green. Merkel reiterated that by the year 2030 that share was supposedly increase to 65 percent.

]]>7918‘IAA’ Auto Show Frankfurt: Past and Future Competinghttps://berlinspectator.com/2019/09/11/iaa-auto-show-frankfurt-past-and-future-competing/
Wed, 11 Sep 2019 15:26:11 +0000https://berlinspectator.com/?p=7895Every two years, the auto industry heads to Frankfurt, where the 'IAA' serves as a trade fair for cars, a contact exchange within the auto industry, and a haven for dreams on wheels. Now the event is also about "new mobility".]]>

Every two years, the auto industry heads to Frankfurt, where the IAA serves as a trade fair for cars, a contact exchange within the auto industry, and a haven for dreams on wheels. Now the event is also about “new mobility”.

What the German car manufacturers are selling as “new mobility” could have been started decades ago, when a lot of today’s know-how was already available. Tesla and the nervous discussion about climate change finally made it happen.

Volkswagen’s ‘Revolution’

Germany’s largest car manufacturer, Volkswagen, loves the word ‘revolution’. This is what they are calling the ‘ID.3’. Jochen Tekotte, a Volkswagen spokesman, told The Berlin Spectator it was the brand’s third revolution, after the Beetle and the Golf.

Celebrated as one of the most important exhibits at the 2019 edition of the IAA, the ‘ID.3’ is VW’s first vehicles designed for the purpose of being propelled by electric engines only. This kind of approach has advantages. For instance, vehicles of this kind will typically be lighter. And they will have more room, since there is no transmission which would eat up a lot of it.

VW is selling the ‘ID.3’ as a “revolution”. Photo: Imanuel Marcus

So far, the ‘e-Golf’ was available. It is a conventional vehicle converted to an electric one. Other brands have tried this approach as well. Now, the ‘ID.3’ will not just be a car of its own, but it will also provide the base for the next Golf, meaning they are reversing their approach, in a way.

From A to B with 808 HP

In a huge IAA pavilion in Frankfurt, the Volkswagen Group, which includes Porsche, Audi, Seat, Škoda, Bugatti, Bentley and even Lamborghini, is also exhibiting pretty much the exact opposite of green cars. A good example is the new Lamborghini Sián. Its 808 hp V12 engine will take two people from A to B. But it will do so while sucking gasoline like hell.

Greta Thunberg and other environmentalists do have a lot of influence these days, but definitely not on super car makers like Lamborghini. McLaren is one of those too. In Frankfurt, they are showing off their latest sensation, the 600LT. Just like the Lamborghini Sián, its fuel efficiency class is ‘G’, the worst one of them all. The car is pretty though. And lightning fast.

Stunning, beautiful, unique, and a gasoline-sucker: The new Lamborghini Sián. Photo: Imanuel Marcus

But, as it turns out, customers with deep pockets can have both performance and the “revolution” VW is talking about in one single car, back at the Volkswagen Group’s pavilion. The Porsche Taycan may very well be the most sensational e-car Germans have ever put together. It is a purely electric sports car only Porsche could have built.

Four-Cylinder Plug-In Hybrid

But let’s not forget the other big German car makers. BMW has offered the i3 and i8 for quite a while now. Audi’s eTron is pretty attractive. So are the two electric vehicles Mercedes-Benz is putting on display at the IAA. Their EQC is a giant SUV with purely electric propulsion. Also they are the only German manufacturer that offers an electric passenger van. The VQC with 9 seats will be available later this year.

In the Mercedes pavilion, where very powerful Maybach limousines with V12 gas-sucking engines are attracting wealthy buyers too, the company presents its full program, including more affordable vehicles with their very economic 4-cylinder hybrid motors.

The big Maybach does cost some money. Photo: Imanuel Marcus

Jochen Hermann heads the ‘eDrive’ development center at Daimler AG, which owns Mercedes-Benz. According to him, criticism according to which German car makers, including Mercedes, missed the electric ‘revolution’, is inaccurate, at least for his company.

Merkel to Open IAA on Thursday

Hermann told this publication, Mercedes-Benz customers expected certain kinds of cars. Until recently, the company had felt that electric mobility had not been the right way to go for that reason. Once they felt the EQC was feasible, they produced it. And the outcome is stunning.

Two years ago, 800,000 visitors came to the IAA auto show in Frankfurt. The organizers are hoping for even more this time around, in spite of the changes the auto industry is going through. The IAA itself tried to adapt quickly.

Chancellor Angela Merkel will officially open the IAA on Thursday, September 12th, 2019 and continue until the 22nd.